Tutorial title - Hepatobiliary System - Liver Failure

9 important questions on Tutorial title - Hepatobiliary System - Liver Failure

What are the features of acute hepatitis or liver dysfunction?

Acute hepatitis or liver dysfunction features include:
  • Acute phase response: jaundice, RUQ pain, hepatomegaly.
  • Bleed disorder features: easy bruising, DIC.
  • Portal hypertension.
  • Features of encephalopathy: irritability, vomiting, headache, papilledema, Cushing's triad - bradycardia, widened pulse pressure, irregular breathing.
  • Rigidity, hyperreflexia, asterixis.

What is liver failure and what are its key characteristics?

Liver failure involves coagulopathy due to liver dysfunction, characterized by:
  • Inability to develop clotting factors
  • Hepatic encephalopathy
  • Bleeding pattern in hepatic coagulopathy presents as Vitamin K related coagulopathy
  • Administration of Vitamin K will improve coagulation time
  • No clotting factors are present

Describe the biochemical features related to liver dysfunction.

Biochemical features related to liver dysfunction include:
  • Metabolic acidosis with lactate acid buildup.
  • Albumin levels decrease.
  • Alpha-fetoprotein levels increase.
  • Higher grades + faster learning
  • Never study anything twice
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Discover Study Smart

How is liver failure classified based on time frame and etiology?

Liver failure is classified as:
  • Acute liver failure: Less than 26 weeks, within 6 months
  • Chronic liver failure/disease: More than 26 weeks

What are the chronic features of liver dysfunction?

Chronic features of liver dysfunction include:
  • All features of acute liver failure.
  • Edema (ascites) leading to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
  • Palmar erythema, spider angiomas, finger clubbing.
  • Terry's nail (leukonychia), half-and-half nail (CKD).
  • Dupuytren's contracture.

What are the differences between acute liver failure and chronic liver disease?

Acute liver failure is characterized by:
  • Presence of coagulopathy and encephalopathy without signs of chronicity
  • Causes include Hepatitis B, autoimmune hepatitis, and Wilson's disease
Chronic liver disease involves:
  • Fibrosis
  • Low albumin levels, possibly due to malnutrition

What is the Child Pugh Score and its classification?

The Child Pugh Score assesses prognosis in liver disease:
  1. Presence of hepatic encephalopathy (grades).
  2. Coagulopathy.
  3. Degree of ascites.
  4. Rate of decline of albumin levels.
  5. Quantity of bilirubin.
  • Class A: 5-6 (well compensated).
  • Class B: 7-9 (partial decompensated).
  • Class C: >10 (decompensated with aggressive treatment).

What are the types of acute liver disease and their characteristics?

Types of acute liver disease include:
  • Hyperacute: Jaundice to encephalopathy within 1 week
  • Acute: Jaundice to encephalopathy in 8 days to 4 weeks
  • Subacute: Jaundice to encephalopathy in more than 4 weeks to 26 weeks

What are the causes of acute liver failure?

Causes of acute liver failure include:
  • Hepatitis (infective)
  • Alcohol (chronic causes usually)
  • Drug toxicity
  • Ischemic events (hypotension, cardiac events)
  • Aflatoxin poisoning (chronic, severe, or acute)

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

  • A unique study and practice tool
  • Never study anything twice again
  • Get the grades you hope for
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
Trustpilot Logo